Song: Haunt me - Kaskade, The Moth & The Flame

I didn't leave. Not because I didn't want to. Being as far away from Nick Baker seemed like the logical choice given his outburst. But my family and the rest of the team wanted to stay for Johnny's race, meaning Janelle and I would have to wait for a ride to the airport. Well, me, Janelle, and Dallas.

"Hadley baby I'm sorry," Dallas said, again and again. Over and over till I was sick of it.

I did my best to ignore him the entire time. Thanks to Janelle who intentionally seated herself between us. "You should have thought about that before you cheated," she deadpanned, keeping her eyes on the track and the current race going on.

The crowd cheered as the bikes ripped along the track. Spewing snow from the teeth of their tracks and dusting out those trailing after them as they tore through the bone yard and around sharp bends.

It was cold, but it was nothing compared to the stare Dallas glared at Janelle.

"Let's go, Johnny!" I yelled, my insides pulling and twisting like a fist as he fought for first.

He was just as talented as mom said. Fast and quick thinking if the last-minute decisions he made were any indication. I attributed it to the team, giving most of the credit to Baker who actually took the time to work with my little brother this season.

He stood along the fence with Austin and a beat-up-looking Nate–his focus fixed on Johnny.

My heart was bruised–recovering behind ribbed bars meant to protect it. It was nothing more than a punching bag for Baker to throw his words like angry fists. Our fight wasn't nearly as bad as some of the others. But it didn't mean it hurt any less.

I'd made the effort to explain. To talk it out, but as always he raged, leaving me primed with anxiousness.

Johnny ripped around the last bend, spewing snow and flying toward the finish line. Neck at neck with Moreno.

I shot up with the rest of the crowd. "Let's go, Johnny! Go! Go!"

My cheers ripped through my throat, my heart racing in time with the bikes.

The announcers voice boomed across the stands and onto the track, "Bell and Moreno battle for first along the straight stretch. 'Just About' Johnny, might have to change his name if he makes the podium today, Dan."

I felt Janelle's gaze slide to me. "Why do they call him 'Just About' Johnny?"

Emma answered on my right, her eyes bright. "Because he's never made first," she said, lifting her voice over the masses. "And just about don't count."

I chuckled, my smile broad. "The boys used to tease him," I said, leaning in. "He'd come close, but he never made the podium. 'Just about' he'd say. And the boys would respond with, 'just about don't count.'"

Johnny pinned it at the last possible moment and flew past the checkered flag, landing himself in first.

I screamed at the top of my lungs as whistles cut sharply past my head, and red solo cups lifted toward the darkening sky in respect. The drunken cheers of our neighbours chanting for my little brother.

"And Just About Johnny makes the podium!"

Emma raced off, likely going to meet Johnny who was currently being rushed by Austin, Nate, and Baker, the latter barely giving him a minute to take the helmet from his head before throwing his arms around his shoulders.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen Baker so happy and it hurt.

The announcers voice blared, "I think we can expect great things from him this year Ted. He's absolutely dominated this race."

"Well it's easy to see where his technique came from Dan," the second announcer boomed. "Just look at his trainer. Snow slayer Nick Baker."

The crowd cheered and my heart plummeted. Maybe Baker was doing better without me. Maybe I contributed to too much stress.

Johnny stood up, his bike bracketed between his thighs as he waved triumphantly.

Janelle, cheered next to me, lifting manicured hands above her head and breath blowing before her face. "Way to go, Johnny!"

Baker caught my eye and I averted, finding my boots. I was a distraction. Just another thing to worry about. Perhaps I should go. Maybe accompanying Dallas home and spending Christmas with Janelle was the better option. Neither sounded appealing but staying was out of the question. Maybe I could go to the bar and mull over my decision. It would be packed but it was better than returning home to an empty house. 

This was shaping up to be a pretty pathetic vacation.

In the middle of my thoughts Dallas slipped behind Janelle and gripped my arm, "Hadley please."

Janelle whipped around, cutting him a glare. "What part of it's over, do you not understand?"

Dallas's stare remained pinned in mine. "I just want to talk. Please."

His words reminded me of my own. That pleading stare prying open pity.

I just wanted to talk to Baker. To explain and he wouldn't give me the time of day. I had no intention of rekindling our relationship but I could bestow this one kindness, something Baker denied me of. "Fine."

Dallas curled an appreciative smile and Janelle's mouth dropped. "You don't owe him anything, Hadley."

No, I didn't, but he was here. And Baker made it very clear that he didn't want me around. There was also the fact that I wasn't getting rid of him. Even if we were broken up, we still had to maintain a professional relationship given the fact that I was the paper's sports photographer–a position I refused to give up, and he was the hockey team's all-star player. If we ended things on bad terms he could request someone else and I'd fought too hard for that position. "Let's go before I change my mind."

I felt Dallas's grin seep through my FXR coat and into my shoulders, but it was nothing compared to Janelle's cold hard stare. "Tell Luke to pick us up at the bar," I said glancing over my shoulder.

She gave me a less than confident smile but agreed.

△

In the middle of the celebration, I watched Hadley go. Followed closely behind by Dallas who found my stare.

My smile melted. My fists clenched. I glared in warning, threatening him with a scathing look. He merely smirked a triumphant smile that indicated he'd won.

He'd only won because I fucked up, again. Because I'd pushed Hadley away like I always pushed her away and I hated myself for it.

Next to me, Nate clapped my back, searing something vicious at Dallas. "Don't even worry about it, Baker. We've got more important things to worry about."

Yeah, like Hunt who'd been eyeing me from the sidelines since Johnny won.

I sloughed him off. Focusing on Johnny and the race ahead. But even I couldn't mask the fear vibrating in my hands. And without Hadley...

I took Johnny's bike, allowing him a minute with Emma who rushed the sidelines like Hadley used to.

I could do this. I had to. Because racing was all I had left.

A/N: I apologize a hundred times over for leaving you hanging. Hadley and Baker have been on my mind for a while but I couldn't get to them.

If you follow me on Instagram you know some pretty cool things have been happening off wattpad. I've been asked to turn one of my short stories into a 3-5 minute film for an awards show this autumn! And I was recently given another opportunity to do some freelance work. Needless to say, the script, writing offline and edits for QoT have been eating my time but I'm determined to finish Snowcrossed before the Watty's deadline! Is anyone else thinking of entering?

I hope you all are well! Once again I apologize. I hope you're as excited as I am to finish Hadley and Baker's story! 🤎